Apparatus for assembling aerosol dispensing devices

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for assembling aerosol dispensing devices including a tapered recess to align the valve structure of the aerosol device with the condenser, means to apply pressure to the valve assembly, and means to impart reciprocal vertical motion to the alignment and pressure applying means.

Inventor Herbert L. Leach Y Hatfield, Pa. Appl. No. 10,553 Filed Feb.11, 1970 Patented Jan. 4, 1972 Assignee Merck 8: Co., Inc.

Rahway', NJ.

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING AEROSOL DISPENSING DEVICES 5 Claims, 4 DrawingFigs.

U.S. Cl 29/208 B Int. Cl B23p 19/04 Field of Search 29/429, 208

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,212,174 10/1965 WonnemanPrimary ExaminerThomas H. Eager Attorneys-Martin L. Katz, Harry E.Westlake, Jr. and 1. Louis Wolk ABSTRACT: Apparatus for assemblingaerosol dispensing devices including a tapered recess to align the valvestructure of the aerosol device with the condenser, means to applypressure to the valve assembly, and means to impart reciprocal verticalmotion to the alignment and pressure applying means.

PATENTEDJAN 41972 3,631,579

sum 1 or 2 INVENTOR HERBERT L. LEACH ATTORNEY This invention relates tothe production of aerosol dispensing devices.

More particularly, this invention relates to an improved apparatus forassembling the valve structure and the container in the production ofaerosol dispensing devices such as those disclosed in US. Pat. Nos.2,721,010, 3,001,524 and 3,301,306.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to an improved apparatusfor aligning and holding down the valve structure during its assemblywith the aerosol container by a crimping operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedapparatus for aligning and holding down the valve structure during theaforementioned crimping operation.

While alignment and holddown procedures are presently used in theassembly of aerosol dispensing devices, they are generally inaccurateand result in a loose fit during the assembly procedure. This will oftenlead to leakage of the contents of the container after assembly.Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide a moreaccurate assembly apparatus and procedure than that which is presently muse.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become evident fromthe following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the aligning and holding device of thisinvention and the aerosol valve and neck portion of the container to beassembled;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the aligning and holding device of FIG. 1in engagement with the aerosol valve and container being assembled inwhich the aligning and holding device is partially depressed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the aligning and holding device of FIG. 1in engagement with the aerosol valve and container being assembled inwhich the aligning and holding device is fully depressed; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the aligning and holding device of FIG. 1in engagement with the assembled aerosol dispensing device.

Referring to FIG. I, there is shown an alignment and holddown assemblygenerally designated 1 and the aerosol dispensing device generallydesignated 2 being assembled. The aerosol dispensing device 2 comprisesa container 3 having a lip 4 an annular washer 5 of elastic material,such as rubber, a sealing ring 6 and a pump assembly 7 which issubstantially as described in the aforementioned patents. Surroundingthe pump assembly 7 is a metallic sleeve generally designated 8 having acylindrical tubular portion 9 which has its interior diametersubstantially equal to the exterior diameter of the lip 5 of thecontainer so that the cylindrical portion fits closely about theexterior of the lip. The metallic sleeve 8 has a substantially radialportion 10 extended inwardly from the upper part of the cylindricalportion 9. The metallic sleeve 8 also has a cylindrical, tubular portion11 extending upwardly a substantial distance above the radial portion10. At the upper end of the cylindrical, tubular portion of the metallicsleeve 1 I, the sleeve turns inwardly to form a shoulder portion 12 thathas a central aperture 13 through which extends the valve stem 14. Thismetallic sleeve 8 secures to the container 3 the pump assembly 7.

The alignment and holddown assembly 1 of this invention is utilized inthe assembly of the aerosol dispensing device 2. This assembly comprisesa holder 20, an alignment portion 21 and a holddown portion 22. Theholder is constructed of metal and has an upper cavity 23 and a lowercavity 24 which are connected by a round channel 25 in the centerportion 26 of the holder 20. The holddown portion 22 comprises a metalholddown 27 and a metal ring 28. The outside surface 29 of the holddown27 abuts the surface 30 of cavity 24. Holddown 27 has a radial shoulder31 which extends outwardly from the bottom edge of portion 32 of theholddown 27 to the uppermost edge of portion 33 of the holddown 27. Theu er ed e 34 of the ring 28 abuts the shoulder 31 of the hol own g7 andshoulder 35 of the alignment portion 21 while the bottom edge 36 of thering 28 and the bottom edge 37 of the holddown 27 form a common pressureapplying surface. An adjustable screw 38 is used to lock the holddown 27into place and a washer 39 is used to insure a tight fit of the holddown27 against the upper surface of the cavity 24.

The alignment portion 21 has an upper external edge 40 which is slidablyengaged with the surface 41 of cavity 24. The upper portion of helicalspring 42 surrounds the portion 43 of the screw 38 which protrudes intocavity 24 and the lower portion of helical spring 42 extends into upperrecess 44 of the alignment means 21. The alignment means 21 has a lowercavity 45 which has a tapered portion 46 extending upwardly and inwardlyfrom the lowermost edge of the outside portion 47 of the alignment means21 to a narrow tubular recess 48 which is of a diameter whichcorresponds to that of the valve stem 14 of the pump assembly. Surface47 of the alignment means 21 is slidably engaged with the inner surface49 of the ring 28. The lowermost edge of alignment means 21 is preventedfrom extending below the bottom edges 36 and 37 of the holddown portionby the engagement of the shoulder 35 by the uppermost edge of the ring28.

In operation, as each container and valve structure reaches the assemblystation the holddown assembly 1 is automatically actuated and depressedthereby guiding the valve stem 14 into recess 45 as shown in FIG. 2. Atthis point the valve stem 14 is in engagement with the sides and bottomof the narrow tubular recess 48. As the holddown assembly I is furtherdepressed the pressure exerted by the top of the valve stem 14 againstthe bottom of recess 48 forces the alignment means 21 upward into thecavity 24 against the pressure exerted by spring 42. When the positionshown in FIG. 3 is reached the spring 42 is compressed and surfaces 36and 37 of the holddown assembly are exerting pressure evenly on theentire surface of the radial portion 10 of the metal sleeve 8. At thispoint crimping means (not shown) are actuated and crimp the lowermostextending portion 50 of the metal sleeve 8 tightly against the neck ofthe container as shown in FIG. 4. At this time the holddown assembly isretracted and returned to the position of FIG. 1 wherein the operatingcycle is repeated.

Two important features of this invention are the accurate alignment ofthe valve structure due to the use of the improved alignment means 21and the even application of pressure on the entire surface of the radialportion 10 of the metal sleeve 8.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for assembling aerosol dispensing devices, thecombination comprising:

a. means for aligning the valve structure of an aerosol dispensingdevice with the container, said means having a tapered portion extendingupwardly and inwardly from the lowermost edge of said alignment means toa narrow tubular recess;

b. means for applying pressure evenly to the entire radial surface of ametal sleeve surrounding the pump assembly of said valve structure; and

c. means for imparting reciprocal vertical motion to said alignment andpressure applying means.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 in which the narrow tubular recess has adiameter which is equal to or slightly larger than that of the valvestem of the aerosol device being assembled.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 in which the means for applying pressurecomprise a metal holddown and a metal ring.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 in which the metal ring surrounds theoutside portion of the alignment means and keeps said alignment means inplace.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 in which the alignment means isreciprocally moveable against the pressure of a helical spring.

1. In an apparatus for assembling aerosol dispensing devices, thecombination comprising: a. means for aligning the valve structure of anaerosol dispensing device with the container, said means having atapered portion extending upwardly and inwardly from the lowermost edgeof said alignment means to a narrow tubular recess; b. means forapplying pressure evenly to the entire radial surface of a metal sleevesurrounding the pump assembly of said valve structure; and c. means forimparting reciprocal vertical motion to said alignment and pressureapplying means.
 2. An appaRatus as in claim 1 in which the narrowtubular recess has a diameter which is equal to or slightly larger thanthat of the valve stem of the aerosol device being assembled.
 3. Anapparatus as in claim 1 in which the means for applying pressurecomprise a metal holddown and a metal ring.
 4. An apparatus as in claim3 in which the metal ring surrounds the outside portion of the alignmentmeans and keeps said alignment means in place.
 5. An apparatus as inclaim 1 in which the alignment means is reciprocally moveable againstthe pressure of a helical spring.